Contributions
922 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBaptisms, Weddings and Funerals: Attendance RestrictionsThe Government have kept in constant touch with the Church of England, all denominations and all faiths throughout the pandemic. Dioceses, parishes and cathedrals are quickly…15 Oct 2020HANSARDBaptisms, Weddings and Funerals: Attendance RestrictionsI strongly agree with my hon. Friend. I am very pleased that baptisms, weddings and funerals can continue in some form in all three covid alert tiers. I am pleased that the…15 Oct 2020HANSARDIndependent Inquiry into Child Sexual AbuseAs the Archbishop of Canterbury has said, the findings of the independent inquiry are “shameful and disgraceful” and remind us how badly we have treated and continue to treat…15 Oct 2020HANSARDChurch Attendance and ParticipationThe “A Church Near You” website advertises 17,000 regular Church of England virtual services and events, and those are only a portion of all that is on offer. Weddings and…15 Oct 2020HANSARDChurch Attendance and ParticipationI thank my hon. Friend very much indeed for what he said. Of course, I am delighted to do so. I am sure, in fact, that the whole House would like to thank clergy, staff and…15 Oct 2020HANSARDChurch Attendance and ParticipationI can tell my hon. Friend that the Church made a significant investment in a new digital communications team back in 2016. The training has been used by over 4,000 clergy. Over 7…15 Oct 2020HANSARDRenting of Church PremisesI very much recognise the picture that my hon. Friend paints of what is happening at St Mary’s in Aylesbury. I can tell him that, nationally, the Church has provided a…15 Oct 2020HANSARDIndependent Inquiry into Child Sexual AbuseI can indeed. The House of Bishops is urgently and very seriously considering the recommendations, including deposition from holy orders. We will address both practice and culture…15 Oct 2020HANSARDRenting of Church PremisesAround 60% of parish income comes from giving, but rental income from halls and other premises has been badly affected, so I would strongly encourage Christians to increase their…15 Oct 2020HANSARDJet Zero CouncilI beg to move That his House has considered the work of the Jet Zero Council. May I say what a huge pleasure it is to serve under what I understand is your first Westminster Hall…14 Oct 2020HANSARDJet Zero CouncilI have finished. Question put and agreed to. Resolved, That this House has considered the work of the Jet Zero Council.14 Oct 2020HANSARDJet Zero CouncilI thank the Minister for his response and I thank hon. Members, from pretty much the whole of the United Kingdom, who have contributed. Three central points stand out. First, how…14 Oct 2020HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateCan the Secretary of State confirm that the rule of six and curfew are based on the evidence of what worked in Belgium, and will he continue to provide the whole country with the…05 Oct 2020HANSARD Covid-19Constituents who have spent a lifetime in public service wrote to me over the weekend saying, “We are on the point of giving up”. Churchill said he had nothing to offer but blood,…22 Sept 2020HANSARD Covid-19 UpdateI thank the Secretary of State for the extra money for the Luton and Dunstable Hospital that he announced today. Does he agree that it would help people with symptoms who need a…17 Sept 2020HANSARDCoronavirusI am really keen that we proceed on the basis of reliable and agreed evidence, so what would the Secretary of State say to people who point to Sweden as an example of how we can…15 Sept 2020HANSARDRacial DiscriminationIn July, both archbishops launched an anti-racism taskforce to assess progress in implementing past recommendations to the Church in this area. The report will be concluded before…10 Sept 2020HANSARDOverseas Aid and DevelopmentYes, absolutely. The Church is pleased that the Government have publicly committed both to spending 0.7% of gross national income on aid and to maintaining the OECD definition of…10 Sept 2020HANSARDOverseas Aid and DevelopmentThe pandemic has worsened poverty and hunger in many developing countries. In response, the Archbishop of Canterbury has launched the Together In Unity Appeal to help vulnerable…10 Sept 2020HANSARDCovid-19: National RecoveryChurch schools have taken a lead in getting children back to school, and many of the Church of England’s 33,000 social action projects have adapted and expanded—for example, in…10 Sept 2020